The Catch?

[Gem]

I've been browsing the B&H site, and after some calculations, I realized it's actually cheaper for me to buy from them online and have it shipped to Edmonton, than it is to go down to a local camera shop and buy it there. For instance, I'll save about $80 if I buy the SB-600 flash from B&H online than if I get it here...I can't help but think that I'm missing something...?

Oh, and also, any opinions on refurbished items?

[JoeMezz]

I've been browsing the B&H site, and after some calculations, I realized it's actually cheaper for me to buy from them online and have it shipped to Edmonton, than it is to go down to a local camera shop and buy it there. For instance, I'll save about $80 if I buy the SB-600 flash from B&H online than if I get it here...I can't help but think that I'm missing something...?

Oh, and also, any opinions on refurbished items?


CAMETA has the SB-600 only $229 .. also Try RITZ Camera - free shipping and no tax.

I wouldn't mind buying CERTAIN refurb items, but not all.

CAMETA sells lens that were demo's .. with a new Nikon Warranty ... got some decent deals that way from them.

Good place

[Gem]

Hey, Joe, thanks for the quick reply. I checked out the sites. CAMETA has $60 shipping fees unfortunately :( And for RITZ Camera, I live in Canada, so they charge duty & taxes, as well as shipping :(

Which is why I'm curious as to why it's so cheap at B&H (total price of $230 including shipping and taxes)?

[JoeMezz]

Hey, Joe, thanks for the quick reply. I checked out the sites. CAMETA has $60 shipping fees unfortunately :( And for RITZ Camera, I live in Canada, so they charge duty & taxes, as well as shipping :(

Which is why I'm curious as to why it's so cheap at B&H (total price of $230 including shipping and taxes)?


BUY IT !!!!
Seriously - - its a *GREAT* flash and BHPHOTO is a great place to do business. Really nice people. I bought many things there and even though the store is 3.5 hours from my house, we drive there about 3 times a year, just to shop and walk around. It's incredible.

I highly recommend that flash.

[JoeMezz]

BUY IT !!!!
Seriously - - its a *GREAT* flash and BHPHOTO is a great place to do business. Really nice people. I bought many things there and even though the store is 3.5 hours from my house, we drive there about 3 times a year, just to shop and walk around. It's incredible.

I highly recommend that flash.

Oh, it's so cheap because I bet that buy them by the train car loads. Seriously

[Gem]

I really want to get it, but I'll have to see (poor university student and all that)! I'm hoping that maybe I can get a used one locally. But if I can't find something by Christmas, I'll probably just end up ordering from B&H :D

[JoeMezz]

I really want to get it, but I'll have to see (poor university student and all that)! I'm hoping that maybe I can get a used one locally. But if I can't find something by Christmas, I'll probably just end up ordering from B&H :D

Used on ebay as just as expensive as new at BHPHOTO

You'll be very happy that you bought it.

[henryp]

I've been browsing the B&H site, and after some calculations, I realized it's actually cheaper for me to buy from them online and have it shipped to Edmonton, than it is to go down to a local camera shop and buy it there. For instance, I'll save about $80 if I buy the SB-600 flash from B&H online than if I get it here...I can't help but think that I'm missing something...?
Oh, and also, any opinions on refurbished items?

Thanks for asking. The Nikon SB-600 (http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/323882-USA/) is in stock. Shipping to Canada via Purolator ground (our new low-priced service to Canada) is 9.02 + 18.28 duties/tax, which comprises 11.00 GST, 0.33 Disbursment, and 6.95 Secirity/Handling.

Regarding refurbs -- I bought my college kid a refurb'd Nikon dslr + lens and it's working perfectly and was indistinguishable from new when we unpacked it.

Hope this helps.

[Marko]

I too like B&H (we are an affiliate of theirs) and they do indeed have great pricing and are easy to work with.

The only thing I wanted to mention, is that for certain items bought from the USA (online or in a brick and mortar store)....you must check the warranty. Many (perhaps the majority) of items purchased by Canadians will only be under warranty in the USA, not Canada. Shipping those items to the USA and paying for return shipping in case of a problem will be costly depending on where you live in Canada..... so it's a calculated risk. For a 225.00 flash, it's a low risk imo.

and yup - it's a good flash! Hope that helps - Marko

[henryp]

I too like B&H (we are an affiliate of theirs) and they do indeed have great pricing and are easy to work with.

The only thing I wanted to mention, is that for certain items bought from the USA (online or in a brick and mortar store)....you must check the warranty. Many (perhaps the majority) of items purchased by Canadians will only be under warranty in the USA, not Canada. Shipping those items to the USA and paying for return shipping in case of a problem will be costly depending on where you live in Canada..... so it's a calculated risk. For a 225.00 flash, it's a low risk imo.

and yup - it's a good flash! Hope that helps - Marko

Thank you. I know there are cross-border warranty issues for digital slr cameras, but I believe not for lenses, film cameras, speedlights, etc.

[Marko]

I believe this is incorrect Henry. AFAIK, most Nikon products and Canon products including bodies, lenses and flashes are guaranteed in the USA OR Canada depending on where they were purchased. Those warranties do NOT transfer countries.

[Gem]

I believe this is incorrect Henry. AFAIK, most Nikon products and Canon products including bodies, lenses and flashes are guaranteed in the USA OR Canada depending on where they were purchased. Those warranties do NOT transfer countries.

Thanks for bringing this up, Marko! I had the thought yesterday, whether warranty would be in Canada or not =/

[asnow]

I remember several years ago I ordered something from the states for work. In addition to the duties and taxes there were brokerage charges. My recollection is the brokerage charges were pretty expensive. Is this still the case.

[Redneck]

Gem. Have you looked at Aden Camera. They are only $276.38 total, everything including shipping? Have bought from them before, and good service.
As for warranty work. Yes, Nikon will not warranty outside of Canada, BUT, Canon will warranty their products in Canada, when bought from an "authorized" Canon dealer from U.S.

[Andrew]

By my calculations it's cheaper for you to go down to McBains in Edmonton and pick one up for $249 per their website. No delays or warranty considerations either.

[Marko]

I remember several years ago I ordered something from the states for work. In addition to the duties and taxes there were brokerage charges. My recollection is the brokerage charges were pretty expensive. Is this still the case.

Henry wrote

Shipping to Canada via Purolator ground (our new low-priced service to Canada) is 9.02 + 18.28 duties/tax, which comprises 11.00 GST, 0.33 Disbursment, and 6.95 Secirity/Handling.

B&H is VERY good with the brokerage fees to Canada, and this quote sums up my experience as well.
Like I mentioned, the key issue will be warranty....my experience with Nikon Flashes over 20 years has been near perfect, so for a 225. flash i really wouldn't worry about the warranty...but that's just me.

[Gem]

By my calculations it's cheaper for you to go down to McBains in Edmonton and pick one up for $249 per their website. No delays or warranty considerations either.

I guess their sale just started; last week it was listed as for $280, I think.

Thanks for all the advice, and answers, guys! :)

[henryp]

I believe this is incorrect Henry. AFAIK, most Nikon products and Canon products including bodies, lenses and flashes are guaranteed in the USA OR Canada depending on where they were purchased. Those warranties do NOT transfer countries.

I have been adivsed repeatedly that digital SLRs do not have cross-border protection but that film cameras, lenses and speedlights will have warranties reciprocally honored as long as the product was not initially "grey market." B&H identifies any item which has "grey market" provenance on our site with the notation, "IMP (http://www.bhphotovideo.com/find/GreyMarketStatic.jsp)."


B&H is VERY good with the brokerage fees to Canada, and this quote sums up my experience as well.

Thank you. We don't use UPS ground to Canada. The UPS options we offer are supposed to cover brokerage.

[Redneck]

As some have stated, Nikon is one of the only manufacturers that does not support cross-border warranties. Take a look at this, (photoprice.ca: Warranties: US? Canada? Grey Market? (http://www.photoprice.ca/article/warranty-us-canada-grey-market)), or you can call them yourselves, as I did Canon.
Not trying to stir things up at all, just trying to clarify some confusion. Hope this helped get some answers.